In the digital age, cars or automobiles are
no longer built just for the purpose of transporting people or hauling goods.
The discovery of electricity and the invention of gadgets and computers have
changed how people and manufacturers view cars. Gone are the days when cars
were just seats placed on four wheels and the only electric gadgets in it are
lights and a radio.
Cars these days host a massive array of
high-tech equipment that not only provides entertainment to the car’s driver
and passengers but also take command of certain key components of the vehicle
such as transmission, breaking and even safety. These technologies along with
the cars that feature them are usually unveiled at an event usually sponsored
by carmakers themselves or at auto shows or salons across the globe. And one
highly recognised motor shows in the world for the past century has been the
Geneva motor show.
The International Geneva Motor show (Salon
International de l’Auto) is an annual motor show held every March in the Geneva
Switzerland. It is organised by the Organisation Internationale des
Constructeurs d’Automobiles and has been the venue for numerous announcements
and unveilings for different car manufacturers. The show is hosted at the Geneva
Palexpo which is located right beside the Geneva Cointrin International
Airport.
And today, we’ll be
featuring some of the cars showcased in this year’s Geneva motor show. So, sit
back and enjoy the ride.
ALFA ROMEO 4C
The Alfa Romeo 4C made its debut two years
ago at the 81st Geneva motor show as a concept. This year, Alfa
Romeo finally unveiled the production version of the 4C. This car is a
mid-engine, two-seater sports car that sports a 205kW turbo engine with
dual-clutch gear box. It has rear-wheel drive and was designed by Lorenzo
Ramaciotti at Alfa Romeo Centro Stile.
McLAREN P1
The P1 is a hybrid supercar produced by
McLaren Automotive and is generally considered as the successor of the McLaren
F1. The P1’s styling was influenced by the McLaren MP4-12C but with added body
panels that make the car look more aggressive. It is a mid-engine, rear wheel
drive car that uses a carbon fibre monocoque body.
The P1 features a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8
engine with 727 bhp. It also has a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that gives
it a power output of 913 bhp at 7500 rpm and a maximum torque of 900Nm. The
McLaren P1 will go from 0-100kph in less than 3 seconds, 0-200kph in under 7
seconds and 0-300kph in less than 17 seconds.
Only 375 McLaren P1s will be made to
maintain its exclusivity and will cost around 1.2 million USD (approximately 51 million Pesos)
CORVETTE STINGRAY
Another automotive icon showcased at this
year’s Geneva motor show is the seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
This two-seater sports car features a motorised fabric hood, a 6.2-litre V8
engine and a six-speed manual/auto transmission.
The stingray’s body is made from aluminium
which makes it 99 pounds lighter than the C6 Corvette Convertible and yet it
manages to have its body 57% stiffer than the C6 convertible.
LAMBORGHINI VENENO
The Lamborghini Veneno is a limited
production sports car based from the Lamborghini Aventador and was built to
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the company. The engine of this
car is a development of the Aventador’s V12 and will produce 740 bhp. Only
three Venenos will be produced, which will be coloured in green, white and red
to represent the colours of the Italian flag.
All three cars will be retained by the
company’s factory and will be displayed in its museum. The three production
cards will cost around 3.8 million USD each (approximately 157 million pesos).
LAFERRARI by FERRARI
The La Ferrari (F70/F150) is the successor
of the Ferrari Enzo and is meant to be the ultimate fusion of sports car and F1
technology. The LaFerrari is a hybrid car that sports a normally aspirated V12
engine that is complemented by a 120 kW electric motor that produces a combined
output of 950 horsepower.
TOYOTA iROAD
The Toyota iRoad is the Japanese carmaker’s
personal mobility vehicle. It features an all –electric power train powered by
a lithium-ion battery which provides power to a pair of 2kW electric motors
mounted in the front wheels. It provides seating for two passengers in a
sort-off jet fighter fashion. The iRoad is more of a tricycle than a car as it
has 3 wheels which are arranged in a similar way as that of a Carver One.
So which car made you say wow? Do tell us
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